The successful introduction of an adapted form of the mini extra corporeal circulation used for cardiac surgery in an obese patient

Obese patients undergoing cardiac surgery have been shown to have a high risk of developing postoperative complications, specifically: increased length of hospital stay, readmission to intensive care unit, acute renal failure, deep sternal wound infections and new onset of atrial fibrillation

Anti-erythrocyte autoimmunization in hydatid disease

A 73-year-old man with hydatid disease developed autoimmune hemolytic anemia due to IgM cold agglutinin with anti-I specificity. Hemolysis decreased after initiating mebendazole therapy. The cysts notably diminished in size and the red cell autoantibodies disappeared at the end of this treatment. On the basis of these observations, 44 patients with hydatid disease were investigated. One patient showed IgM cold autoantibody with no signs of anemia. In addition, cleavage fragments of C3 were detected on the erythrocyte membranes of 6 patients, following chronic activation of the complement system. We suggest that parasitic antigens may evoke antibodies cross-reacting with the red blood cells of the host. © 1993 Springer-Verlag